VW Minibus Gets a Makeover for 2022

VW Resurrects the Iconic Microbus

The VW Microbus the “bus” for short, was as much a symbol of the 1960’s as peace signs, love beads, and tye dye. It has been a decade and a half since VW has offered a van in the US market.

In August VW officially announced the bus’ resurrection during Pebble Beach California’s annual Concours d’Elegance. Volkswagen CEO Dr. Herbert Diess says that VW will be building the I.D. Buzz Concept Minibus in response to consumer demand for the vehicle.

The fully electric Minibus is slated to make its debut at the start of the 2023 model year. The iconic two-tone paint job will be the only similarity between the Minibus and its forebearers.

The I.D. Buzz Concept will be propelled by a 111 kWh battery that is estimated to go 270 miles between charges. The battery will generate 268 hp in the rear wheel drive model. The all-wheel-drive model will have 102 extra horses. Eighty-percent battery replenishment takes about a half-hour.

The Minibus’ impact on the environment will be roughly that of a mid-size car. Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB) platform gives the vehicle a lower center of gravity and more equally distributes the bus’ weight. The MEB also enables the I.D. Buzz Concept to boast more interior room than any other SUV. VW will offer both a passenger and commercial version.

The wheelbase is just over 16′. The distance across is 6.5′. There is 23.3 cu.-ft. of stowage behind the third seat. The front “trunk” adds another 6.1 cu.-ft. Factor in the removable and sliding seats and you have space for 162.5 cu.-ft. of stuff.

The Minibus will have only partial (level 3) self-driving capabilities. Meaning the driver will still have to pay attention to the road. At the time of this writing, no price is available.

Emily Daniel experienced childhood in a games auto arranged family. She has composed for an assortment of auto magazines and sites, Green Auto Shop boss among them. Emily has chipped away at prominent driving recreations as a substance master, notwithstanding working for aviation organizations and programming monsters. She right now lives in a protected, undisclosed area in the American southwestern leave.